Apple Says Retail Personnel Cutbacks Were a 'Mistake'

Posted August 16, 2012 at 5:01pm by iClarified | Please help us and submit a translation by clicking here | 12164 views

Apple is reportedly telling employees that recent retail personnel cutbacks are a 'mistake' due to a new staffing formula which has since been reversed, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

In a communication with store leadership teams, senior vice president of retail, John Browett, who took the reins of Apple's retail stores in April, said that the company had been trying a new staffing formula for its retail stores, leading some employees to see their hourly shifts cut and retail locations to be understaffed. This happened for a few weeks before the company decided to revert to its older system, hoping to rectify the problem. He instructed leadership teams to tell employees, "We messed up," according to two people who were aware of the communication, which also stressed that while shift schedules were affected, no one was laid off. He also wanted employees to know that it was hiring new staff, these people said.

Apple officially commented on the matter. "Making these changes was a mistake and the changes are being reversed," said Kristin Huguet, an Apple spokeswoman. "Our employees are our most important asset and the ones who provide the world-class service our customers deserve."

This directly contradicts a report from earlier today which said these cutbacks were a direct order from Browett who was looking to make Apple retail operations "leaner".